It does, Oscarmax.
Thanks for that Wigwam, I was looking through the road test report last night the journalist just don’t have the slightest clue as regard how to drive and operate these PHEV. Our Outlander PHEV if you press the charge mode at speed over 45mph it make absolutely no difference to onboard fuel consumption plus you have the benefit of a free battery charge. However under 45mph it make a slight reduction in fuel consumption, but you are still adding a battery charge so it all evens out.
Thats very interesting, because I have watched a number or reviews where they all say that the option to recharge the battery using the engine (a feature which, I believe, all PHEV’s have) is very inefficient and hits fuel economy. Haven’t watched any on the Outlander though. On the basis that nothing is free that does seem logical, as the engine that is working to charge the battery is consuming extra petrol doing so.
If you think about it, if charging the battery from the engine made no difference to fuel economy then surely all PHEV’s would be configured to do that as a matter of course, in addition to regenerative energy? That way you would never need to have the hassle of ever plugging them in to charge them (which also costs money). That would be a real winner for those who can’t charge their cars at home.